Vestibule-car platform.



110.545,750.v PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907. C. W. BREMKEN.

VESTIBULE GAR PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

5f; (i l MAQ PATENTBD MAR. 5; 1907,

, G. W. BR'EMKEN.

VESTIBULE GAB, PLATFORM.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED IEB 15 1906 No. 845,750. PATEN'IED MAR. 5, 1907. G. W. BREMKEN. VESTIBULE CAR PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.15, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

4UNITED STATES W. BREMKEN, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LAUNCELOT A. HARKNESS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

vEsTiBu'LE-CAR PLATFORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed February 15. 1908. Serial No. 301,130.

.To alt whom it may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES W. BREMKEN,

a citizenl of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State 5. of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in yestibule-Car Platforms, of which the followlng is aspeciiication.

My invention is concerned with a novel construction foran automatically-raised trap-door, constitutin the extension of the platform of a vestibu -car, whichv door is4 down and in a horizontal position when under way, so as to make an unbroken surface in the vestibule-flooring, but which is raised to a vertical position at the sto of the train to permit the passengers to escend bythe steps which are located directly beneath it when it is down. Somewhat similar devices .I have heretofore been proposed for the same zo purpose but Aso far as Lam awareV all of them ave been unsatisfactory in some point, and

none of them has gone into general use..

My 'invention .consists 1n certain novel features of construction and combinations 'of elements which will first be described l generally in the specification and the novel combinationsthen ointed out in-the claims. To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto three sheets of drawings in which the same reference characters are 'used to desi ateidentical arte in all the'figuresfof the aw ing?, of w ich-f igure 1 is a vertical transverse section throu h the end of the car, as on the line A A o Fig. 2. Fig. 2 isla horizontal section on the line B B of Fig. 1', but on an enl edy scale. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the 'ne C C of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of theV hinge mechanisml for 'the trap-door 4o .with the parts partially disassembled. Fig."

5 is a detail view of the latch mechanism in section on the line D D of-Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is` an end elevation of the latch mechanism. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the operatinghandle on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the same on the line E E of The stationary portion 10 yof the vestibuleplatform, the steps 11, the vestibule-framework, andthe exit-doors 12 are of the customary construction, and the general construc- Aftion and operation of the trap-door 13 is the same as in the ordinary vestibule-carthat is to say, when the door 12 is closed, as ap- 55 pears 'in Fig. 2, the-trap-door 13 isn closed down and serves to prevent the door 12 from being opened or any exit from the car. When a stop is made, the trap-door 13 being raised to a vertical position,'the door 12 can then be Iswung inward and opened to per- 6o mit thi descent of the passengers upon the steps 1 'lhe trap-door 13 instead of being mounted ulponr .ordinary hin es is mounted as best s own inFigS. 2 an 4, where it will be seen 65 that the pivoted end has secured thereon the generally U-shaped metallic cover 14, eXtending along that side and secured thereto, as best shown in Fig. 3. This casing 14 has secured in theends thereof the bearing-collars 7o 15, through which pass 4the hinge-rod `16, which is journaled in the bearing-brackets 17 and 18, suitably secured to the framework of the car, as indicated in Fig. 2. The hingerod 16 has secured thereon, preferably near 75 the center thereof, the collar or sleeve 19, which may be considered as consisting of two and preferably three sections, the cen-` tral section 20 being in the form of-a disk having the recesses 21 therein located at suitable 8.o intervals, so that bythe a plication of a key the rodean be turned, an this section 20 is exposed through the recesses 22 cut in thecasing 14. The other section or sections 23 oi the sleeve-or collar 1'9 has the lug 24 pro- 85 jecting therefrom,l of suitable sha to receive 4and hold the end 25,of the hehcally-'coiled torsion-springl 26, which is coiled about thev rod 16, and as its other end 27 extending beneath the edge o''the'doo'rl between it 9o and the bottom portibn of the casing 14, the door being preferably recessed to permit of the end 27 of the spring enterin it. While one spring might be emplo ed, preferably employ two, as shown,.in or er that the li-ting 9 5 force may he applied more advantageousl than if al sing e spring were employe At the outer end o the rod 16 in a suitable recess 28, formed in the Woodwork of the car, y I secure the ratchet-disk 29, and I pivotally no mount up'on the same side of the bracket 18 Vthe detent-pawl 30, whose nose engages the ratchet-wheel 29, bein spring-pressed into engagement therewith thele'a-spring 31,` secured to the adjacent angeof the bracket m5 18. Ir" thelifting force of the sprin'becomes too weak,-the train conductor or anybody in charge of the car by inserting a-key in one of the 21 will advance the ratchet-disk h or notches, thereby increasing the i 1o tension of the spring sufliciently to furnish the additional lirting power re uired. Ii" by accident the tension should e made too great, the dog can be withdrawn from engagement with the ratchet-wheeLQQ by inserting a hook-shaped key through the aperture 32 in the narrower flange of the'bracket 18 and into the recesses 33 in the body oi the dog itself, so as to catch the dog by the hook on the key and pull it out of engagement with the teeth of the disk 29. This flange, is exposed when the door 12 'is swung open, as w ill e readily seen by reference to'Fig. 2. By the hinging and spring mechanism here shown I have produ/ciad a trap-door that in appearance does not differ from,the'ordinary construction and-in which the lifting force of the spring can be regulated as accurately as may be desired to throw the door to a verti- -call position when it is released from the latch,

Whlch must of course'be employed to hold it in its horizontal position. In the opposite sideoi the door 13 and 1preferably at its center I secure the keeper 34, aving the recess therein with which the latch-bolt 35 coperates. This latch-bolt is moi nted to slide 1n silitable bearings formed in the latch-casing 36, which is secured in the sill adjacent the edge ofthe door. The inner end 37 of the bolt is preferably reduced and of a circular shape,- as shown, so that it vill slide in the bearmg.- aperture 38 and confine v,the helically-coiled expanding-s ring 39 between the casing and the shoul er 40 on the dog. The bolt'has a recess 41 therein, into which extends the rm 42 oi the three-armed lever or dog 43, W ich is pivoted upon the bearing-rod 44 in the latch-casing 36. The

arm 45 has pivoted thereto the link 46, connecting it to the latch-operating -mechanism to be described, andthe other arm 47 isprovided vsith a bearing-surface 48 so shaped,

and located as to contact with the edge of the underside of the door 13 as soon or substantially as soon as it has been released from the latch 35, so as to positively start the door upward if by chance itvshould be stuck so as to not respond at once tothe liftin-g'a'ction of the springs 26. The upper ed e of the bolt 35 is of course beveled off, so s to be automatically moved back by the action of the keeper 34 las the door 13 is swung down to catch it and hold it automatically.

One feature of importance in my invention is the location of the operating-handle 49, by which the latch is operated. Heretofore the latch has been operated by foot near the door, producing a dangerous structure, as the foot of the operator was apt to be struck by the door, or else' the operating-handle has been located in a position where it was liable to be struck and' operated accidentallyby the passengers. In my improved construction this handle 49 is located, preferably, upon the vpvil'aster 50 at such a heig sible to be struck by the bodies ofthe passengers, but it has to be operated by reaching upward, so that there is no chance of its being operated accidentally or by children or other curious individuals. The details of construction of this handle are best shown in Figs.l7 and 8, where it willbe seen that the handle normally hangs in the vertical position shown and is secured upon the squared rod 51 and is journaled by the bearing portion 52 in the bearing formed in the disk53, which has au vofliset portion-54 thereof seated in the framework, While the bodyportion is secured thereto, as by the screws 55. The rod 41 passes through the squared aperture in the hub 56, which carries the arm 57, to which is secured, as by the link58, the end of the link-rod `59, lwhich extends downward through the tube 60, which is embedded in thewoodwork of the car, wh'ere it will be out of sightv and yet furnish an uninterrupted passage and guideway for the link 59. The bearing-or'hub 56 is j'ournaled in the bearing-bracket 1, which issecu'red to' the. interior Woodwork bythescrews, as shown, and is preferably' provided with't-hel pin 62, which c'operates with the offset 63 on the hub 56 to hold the handle and associated mechanism in their pro .r position by the gravity of the parts.l f course the reason for separating the arm 5.7 from the handle 49 is to enable it lto accommodate itself readily to constructions in which the widthof the openspaice in the woodwork varies.

The link 59, extending down through the tube 60, finally emerges rom the bottom of the car and is connected to one arm of the bell-crank lever 64, which is pivoted upon the bearing-bracket 65, secured to the bottom of ythe car in front of the steps 1]. A link 66 connects the bell-crank 64 with a corresponding bell-crank 67, pivoted u on a similar bearin -bracket 68, and the 1in 46, attached to the ldog 43 ,is of course secured to the other arr'n of the -bellfcrank 67, so that by swingi the handle 49,slightl from its vertical osition the latch 35 Willbe withdrawn an the trap-door released and ily upward under the impetus of the ring'.

If desired, a ',ufl'er may be secured tothe end of thepcar-body proper in position to cushion the inal opening movement of the tra door.

t will be noticed thatthe bell-cranks for releasing the latch are outside the car adje construction and mode of operation can open ate them from the outside, and thus obtain access to the car, .if necessary, under einen. gency conditions, which sometimes arise,'as if a passenger has been shut out prior to 'the starting of the car or is on the closed side and does not have time to reachthe other side be- -lore the train pulls out,

t that it is not pos- The operation of the apparatus will be TOO* ITO

cent the steps, Where those familiar with that v down, a releasing-handle for the latch located the handle and the latch.

readily apparent, and it will he understood.

that while have shown and described my invention as embodied in the form 'which I at present consider best ada ted to carry out its purposes it is capable o modifications and that I do not desire tube limited in the interpretation of the following claims, except as may be necessitated by the state the prior art. l

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a device of the class described', the combination with the car-body having the vestibule-platform, the steps, and the trapdoor pivotally secured to the car-body sogas to cover or expose the steps as desired, of

lmeans" coperating with the tra -door to raise' it automatically, alatch for olding it down, a releasing-handle for the latch located and exposed only at a oint high enough to prevent its being acci entally operated by contact-'with the body of an adult, and connections inaccessible from within the car between 2. In a device `of the'class described, the

combination with the car-body having the vestibulefplatform, the ste s, and the trapdoorpivotally secured to t e car-bodyv so as to cover or expose the steps as desired, of means 'coperating with the tra door to raise it automatically, a latch Afor holdin it down, a releasing-handle for the latch loca ed on the pilasteradjacent the exit to the next car and exposed only at a point high enou h to prevent its being accidentall operated y contact with they body of an a ult, and connections inaccessible from within the car between the handle and the latch.

3. --In a .device 'of the class described, the

combination with the car-bodyhaving the vestibule-platform, the ste s, and the trap door pivotally secured to t e car-body so as to cover or expose the stes 4as desired, of means coperating with t e tra door to raiseit automatically, a latch for olding it at a point high enou h to prevent its being accidentallyY operate by contact with the 1 body ofY an adult and connections' between the handle and the latch, consisting of the link connected -to the handle and inclosed within the framework of the car and extending downto a point beneath the platform, the bell-crank lever to which itis connected, a. second bell-crank lever, a link connecting the two bell-cranks, and a third link connecting the second bell-crank and the latch.

. In a, device of .the class described, the

combinationv with the car-body havingfthe vestibule-platform, the steps, and the. trapdoor pivotally secured to the car-body so as to cover or expose the ste s as desired,`of means cooperating with t e tran .-door to raise it automatically, a latch for olding it down, a releasingahandle for the latch located at a point high enou h. to prevent its being accidentally operated by contact with the bod of an adult, and-connections between the andle and the latch, including a link inclosed withinthe frame of the car and extending down to the level of the latch.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with the car-body having the vestibule-platform, the ste s, and the trapdoor pivotallysecured to t e car-body'so as to cover or expose the stepls as desired, of means coperatingwith t e trap-door to raise it automatically, a latch for holding it down, a releasing-handle for the latch located at a point above the tra -door and projecting downward to the outsi e of the frame of the car, the `arm connected to the handle and roand a link extending downward within the 'car and ultimately connected to the latch.

combination with the car-body havingthe vestibule-platform, the steps, and the trapdoor pivotally secured to t e car-body so as means coperating with t e tra -idoor to raise it automatically, a latch for olding it down, a releasing-handle for the latch extending downward and journaled to rotate upon a horizontal axis, a squared shaft carrled by the handle, an arm having a square aperture through which the squared shaft passes within the framework of the car, and a link extending from the arm downward through the framework of the car and ultimateljylconnectedy with the latch.

7. a device o f the class described, the combination with the carbody"having the vestibule-platform, "the ste s, and the trapdoor pivotally secured to t e car-body so as to cover orexpose the ,stepls as desired, of means coperating with t e tra -door to raise it automatically, a latch 'for olding it ,down, releasing means for the latch, and mechanism connected. with said releasing means forpositively starting. the door in its up rocked by the releasing means, one arm of which operates the latch and the other arm of which enga es ,the under side of the vdoor adjacent the atch to lift it when the latch has been moved far enough' to release it.

combinationvwith the car-body having the vestibule-platform, the steps, and the trap door pivotally sedured to t e car-body so as to cover or expose the\steps as desired, of means eoperating with the trap-door to raise it automatically, a latch for holding 1t down, a releasing-handle for the latch, a

latch, one arm of which engages and operates ythe-,latch and vanother arm of which engages the under side ofthe door adjacent thelatch to'lift it when the latch has been moved fai` to cover or expose the ,ste s as desired, ofv

8. Ina device of the class described, the

three-armed bell-crank piv'oted adjacent the` tating therewith inside the frame of the car,

6. In` a device of the class described, the

IOO

IIO

ward movement, consisting of a bell-crankl y enough-torelease thedoor, and connections between the third arm of the bell-crank and thereleasing-handle.

9. In a device of the class described, the :combination with the car-body having the vestibule-platform, the ste s, and the trap. door -pivot-allysecured to tile car-bc dy so as to cover or expose the steps as desired, of a helically-coiled torsionfspring located along .directly thereon to raise it when it is released, a latch fer holdin' the'door down, a releasingfhandle for the Ia thedaandle and the latch, and .means for adjustinltlhe tension ofthe spring.

10. g a. device of the class described, the combination with l(he car-b0dy having the vestibuleeplatform, the steps, and the trapdoorpivotally secured to the car-body so as tocoveror expose the steps as desired, of a helioally-coiled .torsion-sprin located along the axisfof the pivoteOf the oor and acting l `directly thereon to raise it when it is re- .l6Sed,-'a1atch .for holding Vthe door down, a releasingfhandle for the latch, connections betweenthehandleand the latch, means for the tension of the spring step by .Stielndgmeans forireleasingits tension entire y.

11. In aidevice of the class described, the mbnation ,with the.carbody having the ,fvelstibu-lfesplatform, thersteps, and the trap` door-pivotallyfsecured to the car-body so as to. cover. or cxposethe steps as desired, ofthe rod dipen Awhich -the Adoor is pivoted, the s rin .surroundin the rod and engaged t. er@ yfat onefen and by the door at the otheild, the-.ratchet-diskon the rod, a dog Ycoperating `.therewith permitting its movement in. one direction onlv, means for turning the rod l,latch :for :holding the door down, andxreleasin means for thelatch.

12. In a evice of the class described, the combination with the car-body having the westbuleplatform, the ste s, and the trap- .door-pivotallyiseeuwdto ltre car-body so as yto'cov-'erforexposethe steps .as desired, of the rodznpon .which 'hedoor is pivoted, the col- .lfl' lcltedupon rod provided with the .peripheral yapertures and -alug to engage the spzingythesprin surrounding the rod and engaged :by-the lgilg at one end and by the ydoor.@atttfhe other, theratchet-disk on the rod, 1.a Ydog'.oooperatir,1g .therewith permitting its lmQVQmBntgin onedirection only, nieans'for ,ftuming-therod, a latch for holding the door `down,faisldreleasing means for the latch.

.13. ',Inadevice-ofztheclass described, the .imbilmtioll with `the car-body having the 6o rvestibuleq'ilatfofrrn, the ste s, and the trap-A rioorpiYQtallysecured to4 t e car-body so as daorcover oriexpcsethefsteps as desired,` of the !Qf'joumB/iednbe-arings secured to the carly, .the U-fshaped in crossfsection the axis ofthe pivot of the door and actingl tch, connections between forming the pivot side of the door, the sdprin within the casingl surroundmg the ro .an

engaged by the rod at one end and by the` door and casing at the other, a ratchet-disk on the rod, a dog coperating therewith permitting its movement in one direction only, means far turning the rod, a latch for holding 1the I(licor down, and releasing meansfor the atc 14. In a device of the class described'the combination with the car-body having the vestibule-platform, the steps, and the trapdoor pivotally secured to the carfbody so as to cover or expose the steps as desired, of the casing U-shaped in cross-section secured on and forming the pivot edge of the door, a rod upon which the casing is pivoted, mounted in bearings carried by the car-body, the -collar 'secured on the rodprovided with the apertures and a lug to engage a spring, the spring surrounding the rod and enga e by the lug at one end and by the door an cas' at the other end,-the ratchet-disk on the ro a dog coperating therewith, the portion of the collar carrying the apertures projecting .throu h a recess in thecasing, a latch vfor holding t door down, and releasingmeans for the latch. 15. In a device of the class described, the combination with the car-body having the vestibule-platformfthe ste s, and the trap# door pivotallysecured-'to t e car-body-so as to cover or exp ose the steps as desired, of the rod upon which the dooris pivoted, a collar `provided with apertures and two lu to engage ends of the springs `on either side of the apertures, and adapted to be secured near the middle of the rod, the springs-surround in the rod and en `ged by the lugs on the co larat one endan by' theldoor at the other endg-the ratchet-disk on the rod, a dog coperating' therewith, a vlatch orfholdingthe door down, and releasing rneansfoIi-'the latch.

16. In-aydeviee of the class described, the combination with the'car-body having the vestibule-platinum, the steps, and, .the trapdoor pivotallysecured to the. earbody soas to cover o r expose the steps-as desired, of the .rod upon which/the door ,is pivoted, the

spring surroundin the :rod and engaged thereby at one en -and by the door at the other end, the ratchet-disk xup'on therod, .a dog cooperating therewith,"having an apertureftherein, -meansfcr turning the rod, an .aperture in the casing adiacent the dog to give access theretopahlatch for holding the door down, and ,releasing means for thelatch. In witness whereof'I have hereunto set'my hand and ,affixedrny seal. this 7th day of Febmary, 1906.

CHARLES w. BREMEN, [L. s] In presence-of- L. A.:HARKNEss, LE. WoonWARn. 

